National Report on Ihp Related Activities

Format for Reports by UNESCO’s Water-related Centers on activities related to the IHP in the period June 2010 – May 2012

1. Basic information on the centre

Water Center for Arid and Semi-arid Zones in Name of the Centre Latin-America and the Caribbean - CAZALAC Name of Director Guido Soto Name and title of contact person (for Guido Soto cooperation) E-mail [email protected] Address Benavente 980, La Serena, Chile Website www.cazalac.org city/town _La Serena___ country Chile_ Location of centre ______Geographic orientation * global X regional Year of establishment groundwater urban water Xarid / semi-arid zones humid tropics Xdroughts and floods sediment transport and management water and environment Xecohydrology Focal Areas ♦ water law and policy transboundary river basins/ aquifers XIWRM Xglobal and climate change Themes mathematical modeling social and cultural dimensions of water water education other: (please specify) ______Xvocational training postgraduate education continuing education Xresearch Scope of Activities ♦ Xinstitutional capacity-building advising/ consulting software development other: (please specify) ______Support bodies 1 General Water Board, Chile Hosting organization 2 University of La Serena, Chile 3 Extrabudgetary fund UNESCO/Flanders; JRC-EU; Research

Sources of financial support funds of Chilean Gv Existing networks and cooperation 4 UNCCD; X director and governing board other: (please specify) ______Link to election of board members to the IHP Governance Intergovernmental Council (IGC) and hosting country IHP National Committee ______

* check on appropriate box ♦ check all that apply ♦ 1 please specify bodies that cover the operational costs of the centre, and other essential costs such as salaries and utility bills, and that provide institutional support to ensure center’s sustainability 2 if different from support bodies 3 please specify sources of main budgetary and extrabudgetary funds to implement projects 4 please write international networks, consortiums or projects that the centre is part of, or any other close links that the center has with international organizations or programs, which are not already mentioned above Frequency of meetings: once every 1__year(s) Existence of UNESCO presence at meetings Institutional affiliation of director total number of staff (full-time, or equivalent) : _four______number of staff who are water experts: __three_and around five part time water Number of staff and types of staff experts______number of visiting scientists and postgraduate students: _four______

Annual turnover budget in USD 500,000

2. Activities undertaken in the framework of IHP in the period June 2008 – May 2010

2.1 Educational activities (i.e., those with accreditation) that directly contributed to the IHP-VII (Appendix-1) and WWAP Please include here those activities which led to the accreditation of degrees, or those held in formal school settings. 2.2 Research activities that directly contributed to the IHP-VII and activities by WWAP Please include research/applied projects outputs such as publications that directly contributed to the IHP-VII and WWAP objectives

International Conference: Arid and Semi Arid Development Through Water Augmentation - ASADWA. (Valparaiso - Chile, December 2010). The main purpose of the conference was to provide an opportunity for the professionals and scientific investigators that work around the world to exchange experiences about topics related with the increase of water available in arid areas. In addition, the aim was to generate a useful result that allows stimulating the incorporation of new techniques and allows learning from mistakes and successes. The topics were: Harvesting of Rainwater, Capture of water from mist and dew, Refilling of Aquifers, Desalinization for rural development, Reuse of Water Resources and the Efficient Use of Water. Organizing Committee: UNESCO CAZALAC Centre; Catholic University of Valparaiso (PUCV); UNESCO Chair of Eremology of the University of Ghent; UNESCO's International Hydrological Program (PHI/LAC). International Scientific Committee: Dr. Donald Gabriels, President of the Committee. University of Ghent, Belgium; Dr. Soroosh Sorooshian Harvesting of Rainwater / Refilling of Aquifers. Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing, University of California at Irvine, USA; Dr. Roberto Pizarro Tapia, Harvesting of Rainwater. University of Talca, Chile; Dr. Koen Verbist, Harvesting of Rainwater. University of Ghent, Belgium; Guido Soto, Harvesting Mist. CAZALAC, Chile; Dr. José Luis Arumí, Refilling Aquifers. University of Concepción, Chile; MSc. Carlos Gutierrez, Refilling Aquifers. Mexican Water Technology Institute (IMTA), Mexico; Dr. Mike Edmunds, Refilling Aquifers. Oxford University, England; Dr. Manuel Cerda, Efficient Water Usage. Catholic University of Valparaiso, Chile; Dr. Dirk Raes, Efficient Water Usage. Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. http://www.cazalac.org/asadwa

UNESCO/G-WADI-LAC Program.

The meeting was held in December 2010, with the purpose of creating and establishing the G-WADI network in the Latin American and Caribbean region. CAZALAC took on the Technical Secretariat of the ALC Region Network, which from the beginning included the participation of the representatives of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru. Participating Institutions: CAZALAC, Chile - Project Coordinator; UNESCO-PHI-LAC; University of Ghent, Belgium - Scientific Counterpart Government of Flanders; and AGRIMED, Chile - Scientific Coordinator. During the meeting of the G-WADI-LAC program held in 2011, work continued with the conformation of the network and the preparation of an action plan for two-year period of 2011-2012.

EUROCLIMA Project of the European Commission for Latin America: CAZALAC has developed a coordination activity in Latin America, of the Water Balance axis through the "Variability and frequency properties of water balance components in Latin America" project. This activity has been developed with the European Commission's Joint Research Center (JRC). Participating countries:

Environmental Flow Project of the Huasco Basin, Chile: This project is carried out by CAZALAC, with the collaboration of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is financed by the Regional Government of Atacama, Chile. The project is the first Chilean experience about the evaluation of environmental flow for the management of arid and semi-arid areas. Main products: Hydrological modeling of the basin (WEAP), incorporating the environmental demand of water in the most important points; social and economic evaluation of the water by the different production activities; participative dialogs with the actors of the basin; institutional strengthening (training professionals); and broadcasting.

From November 2011 up to August 2012, CAZALAC has started the activities of the "Sea water desalination through Inverse Osmosis and Photovoltaic Energy for the provision of drinking water in Isla Damas, Coquimbo Region" project. This initiative, is financed by Funds of the Regional Government of Coquimbo (Chile), the Belgian drinking water company, VMV (Vlammse Maatschappij voor Watervoorziening) and the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF). It has the objectives of dimensioning, designing, installing and evaluating an Inverse Osmosis System plant with Photovoltaic Energy that is energetically self- sustainable and that does not affect the environmental conditions in Isla Damas, located in the National Humboldt Penguin Reserve. Objective: propose technology innovation for Chile, combining the technology available for seawater desalinization and the use of photovoltaic energy for this. It is expected that this experience can be repeated in other areas of the country, under similar conditions. This being, the water requirement for human consumption on islands, remote places, without access to conventional sources of electrical energy.

2.3 Training activities that directly contributed to the IHP-VII and WWAP objectives

During the period, CAZALAC, through the researcher Jorge Nuñez, taught the following training courses:

Cooperation with EUROCLIMA-Water Project. During the Guayaquil EUROCLIMA- Water Workshop (Ecuador, October 2011). 18 participants from different countries in the Region were trained by professionals linked to CAZALAC about the use of open code analysis tools, for the processing of rainfall data in the entire Region. At least, data coming from 6,000 meteorological stations was analyzed during the event, which allowed generating a group of regional maps and statistical properties and rainfall frequency in the Region.

Course on the Analysis of Regional Drought Frequency based on L-moments (Robust estimation of the frequency of meteorological drought). III South American Meeting about the application of the eumetcast meteorological and environmental monitoring system. Maceio, Brazil, August 30th - September 2nd 2011.

Training Course of Regional Frequency Analysis based on L-moments. Ispra, Italy. Course financed by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre through the EUROCLIMA-Water project. Ispra, Italy. 11-14 July 2011

International Course of Regional Frequency Analysis based on L-moments. Course financed by the European's Commission's Joint Research Center through the EUROCLIMA-Drought project. Santiago, 4-5 April 2011

3. Collaboration and linkages 3.1 Participation in major international networks, programs, partnerships with other UN or other International Agencies, media and professional bodies

In 2011 CAZALAC is accepted as a member of the European Commission's Latin American Network of Knowledge Centers in the Management of Water Resources (RALCEA).

Research internship for two professionals from the Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico (September 2010). The researchers participated in the presentation of the paper "Handling of Water Resources in Mexico: Baja California case" in the Water table institutions of the Huasco River Basin, Atacama Region, Chile, in the Seminar Program of the Geology, Mining, Metallurgy and SIGMMA Environment Investigation of the University of La Serena and in the workshop on "Training in L-Map Software", given by CAZALAC. Information about the research professionals: Dr. Jorge Ramirez Hernández; Lead Researcher, Science Group of the Land Engineering Institute of the Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico and Engineer Michelle Hallack-Alegria, Associate Professor. Engineering and Technology Center of the Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico.

Research internship of Dr. Teresa Torregrosa Marti of the Applied Economics Analysis Department of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Alicante, Spain (October 2010). During her stay, Dr. Torregrosa interviewed a series of researchers, authorities, professionals and technicians linked to the water management in the Elqui, Huasco and Limari basins. In addition, she presented her work in the University of La Serena's Seminar on Geology, Mining, Metallurgy and SIGMMA Environment Investigation.

In the framework of the Environmental Flow project of the Huasco Basin, Chile, research was carried out in the Center: Sandra Ledermüeller, Geography student from the University of Cologne (German), specialist in the development of geographical information systems for the project, and Philipp Wagnitz, Postgraduate student in Natural Resource Management from the University of Applied Sciences of Cologne (Germany), who supported in the development of the valuing of environmental services in the Huasco basin

3.2 Participation in meetings related to the IHP and UNESCO (e.g., the UNESCO General Conference, the UNESCO Executive Board, the IHP Intergovernmental Council and/or other meetings organized by IHP) 3.3 Collaboration and networking with other UNESCO category 1 or 2 institutes/ centers 3.3.1 cross-appointment of directors of the category 1 or 2 institutes or centers on the governing board 3.3.2 exchange of information on activities such as training/educational materials, and funding opportunities 3.3.3 exchange of staff, most notably professionals and students 3.3.4 implementation of joint activities, such as workshops, conferences, training programs, joint projects, field visits, software and data sharing, knowledge exchange and publications Exchange of hydrometeorological databases with the CEHICA Center (Dominican Republic and CIH - Itaipu, Brazil) 3.4 Relationships with the UNESCO field and regional office whose jurisdiction covers the country of location 3.5 Relationship with the UNESCO National Commission and the IHP National Committee in the country of location and with other organizations of other countries Permanent participation in the monthly meeting of the Chilean IHP National Committee and direct collaboration with the institutions associated with the National Committee. 3.6 Relationship with other UNESCO-related networks, such as UNESCO Clubs, ASPnet, and UNESCO chairs

Meeting with Israel's President of Conaphi (July 2010). An active relationship has been kept through an Agreement held with the University of Ben Gurion. On this occasion, several possible ways of Israel collaborating, both in Chile as well as in other countries of the Region were included, such as: • Raw sewage treatment systems for small communities and/or groups of houses • Desalinization systems that work using solar energy • Techniques for reusing water • Refilling aquifers, Sustainable aquifer management (census of wells, water meters, training users, etc).

4. Communication 4.1 Communication and knowledge dissemination activities undertaken in the framework of IHP

Recent CAZALAC Publications

Arid Areas Atlas. Technical Document PHI-LAC Nº25, "Atlas of Arid Areas of Latin America and the Caribbean", developed within the framework of the preparation project of the Arid, Semiarid and Sub-humid Dry Areas Atlas of Latin America and the Caribbean. Support of UNCCD to increase the print run.

CAZALAC-IWR Drought Atlas. Methodology Guidelines Publication for the Application of Regional Drought Frequency Analysis based on L-Moments and Application Results in Latin America. Technical Document PHI-LAC Nº27.

CAMINAR Project. Technical Document PHI-LAC Nº15, "Sustainable Mining in Arid Areas. Thematic Support of the CAMINAR Project".

CAMINAR Project. Technical Document PHI-LAC Nº 17, "Water and Mining in Arid and Semi-Arid Basins, Guideline for Integral Management. CAMINAR Project".

4.2 Policy documents and advice

5. Update on Centre Operations 5.1 Membership of the Board of Governors between designated period 5.2 Key decisions made (minutes of meetings attached)

6. Evidence of the Centre’s Impacts 6.1 Science Impacts (Major contributions to the science, technology, education, and regional and/or international cooperation in the field of water) 6.2 Knowledge Transfer Impacts (Major achievements in the dissemination of knowledge and technology transfer)

Through the European Commission's EUROCLIMA and RALCEA Project, CAZALAC has spread the Regional Frequency Analysis with L-moments, as a standard analysis tool for the execution of the Variability and frequency properties of the Water Balance component in Latin America project.

Distribution of several PHI technical documents, result of the projects developed by CAZALAC with standout specialists from Germany, Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Chile, the United States, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and UNESCO, among others.

6.3 Policy Impacts (advice sought by government and other bodies and evidence of inputs into policy arena)

7. Future activities that will contribute directly to IHP and/or to WWAP 7.1 Operational Plan (attach if available) 7.2 Strategic Plan linked with IHP-VII (attach strategic plan if available)

8. Annexes 8.1 List of publications released by the centre (there can be overlap with those listed in 2.3 above)

CAMINAR Project. Technical Document PHI-LAC Nº15, "Sustainable Mining in Arid Areas. Thematic Support of the CAMINAR Project".

CAMINAR Project. Technical Document PHI-LAC Nº 17, "Water and Mining in Arid and Semi-Arid Basins, Guideline for Integral Management. CAMINAR Project".

8.2 List of training courses conducted (these can be overlapped with those listed in 2.1 above)

Cooperation with the EUROCLIMA-Water Project. During the Guayaquil EUROCLIMA-Water Workshop (Ecuador, October 2011), no fewer than 18 participants from different countries in the Region, were trained by professionals linked to CAZALAC about the use of open code analysis tools, for the processing of rainfall data in all the Region. At least, data coming from 6,000 meteorological stations was analyzed during the event, which allowed a group of regional maps and statistical properties and rainfall frequency in the Region to be generated.

Course on the Analysis of Regional Drought Frequency based on L-moments (Robust estimation of the frequency of meteorological drought) III South American Meeting about the application of the eumetcast meteorological and environmental monitoring system. Maceio, Brazil, August 30th - September 2nd 2011.

Overview of the Core Program Themes of the Seventh Phase of the IHP (2008-2013) WATER DEPENDENCIES: SYSTEMS UNDER STRESS AND SOCIETAL RESPONSES

Theme 1: ADAPTING TO THE IMPACTS OF GLOBAL CHANGES ON RIVER BASINS AND AQUIFER SYSTEMS Focal area 1.1 - Global changes and feedback mechanisms of hydrological processes in stressed systems Focal area 1.2 - Climate change impacts on the hydrological cycle and consequent impact on water resources Focal area 1.3 - Hydro-hazards, hydrological extremes and water-related disasters Focal area 1.4 - Managing groundwater systems’ response to global changes Focal area 1.5 - Global change and climate variability in arid and semi-arid regions Theme 2: STRENGTHENING WATER GOVERNANCE FOR SUSTAINABILITY Focal area 2.1 - Cultural, societal and scientific responses to the crises in water governance Focal area 2.2 - Capacity development for improved governance; enhanced legislation for wise stewardship of water resources Focal area 2.3 - Governance strategies that enhance affordability and assure financing Focal area 2.4 - Managing water as a shared responsibility across geographical & social boundaries Focal area 2.5 - Addressing the water-energy nexus in basin-wide water resources Theme 3: ECOHYDROLOGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY Focal area 3.1 - Ecological measures to protect and remediate catchments process Focal area 3.2 - Improving ecosystem quality and services by combining structural solutions with ecological biotechnologies Focal area 3.3 - Risk-based environmental management and accounting Focal area 3.4 - Groundwater-dependent ecosystems identification, inventory and assessment Theme 4: WATER AND LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS Focal area 4.1 - Protecting water quality for sustainable livelihoods and poverty alleviation Focal area 4.2 - Augmenting scarce water resources especially in SIDS Focal area 4.3 - Achieving sustainable urban water management Focal area 4.4 - Achieving sustainable rural water management Theme 5: WATER EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Focal area 5.1: Tertiary water education and professional development Focal area 5.2: Vocational education and training of water technicians Focal area 5.3: Water education in schools Focal area 5.4: Water education for communities, stakeholders and mass-media professionals